Chapter 20: Tang Ya and Bei Bei

"Third Soul Skill: Flying Sword Wings!"

A crystal-blue sword descended from the sky!

With an overwhelming killing intent, Chen Junting's sword slashed toward the tail of the mutated scale-armored beast. A clash of metal echoed as the two remaining five-pointed stars on his sword flared simultaneously.

"First Soul Skill: Long Sword Strike!"

"Second Soul Skill: Murderous Intent!"

His long sword surged forward, streaks of sword energy cutting through the air. In an instant, a luminous blue character—Kill—shone brilliantly before Tang Ya's eyes.

"Buzz—"

With a sharp whistling sound, the Kill symbol slashed toward the weakest point of the mutant scale-armored beast—the very wound inflicted by Zhuge's Soul Guidance Crossbow!

"Boom!"

As the blue glow cut through the beast's thick scales, flesh and blood splattered in all directions. The impact even dislodged the embedded crossbow bolt, sending it flying.

The once-impenetrable defense of the beast had now collapsed.

Chen Junting's long sword twisted mid-air, its sharp edge gleaming as it thrust forward—

With a final piercing strike, the sword pinned the monstrous creature to the ground.

A dying wail escaped its throat, but there was no chance for escape.

The agonized cry sent a ripple of fear through the Human-Faced Demon Spider. Already wary of the light-attributed soul power, the arachnid instinctively recoiled. Its once-ferocious attack lost momentum, and its body shrank back.

But Bei Bei seized this opening without hesitation. A gentle voice suddenly rang out—

"The Seven Treasures turn to Glaze."

"First, Speed! Second, Attack!"

Bei Bei's eyes flickered with understanding. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda—that means they're from the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect!"

Recognizing the origin of the assistance, his wariness eased.

And then—power surged into his body!

"Second Soul Skill: Thunderous Force!"

Lightning erupted around him, forming a dazzling web of electricity that severed the Human-Faced Demon Spider's escape route.

Then, his thousand-year soul ring glowed

"Thunderous Fury!"

A storm of lightning exploded from his form, caging the demonic spider in raw electrical power.

Realizing its path was blocked, the spider let out a shriek of desperation. Its body reared up, lifting its front two legs while its remaining six spear-like limbs pulsed with venomous purple light, stabbing toward Bei Bei's vital points!

But before they could strike, its movements froze mid-air—

The dense lightning had paralyzed the beast! Even the human-like face on its abdomen contorted in pain.

"Now's my chance!"

Bei Bei's Dragon Claws smashed into its exposed abdomen, sending it flying!

Its fatal weakness was now laid bare.

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Vines of Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground, instantly ensnaring the spider.

Before it could break free—

"Zhuge's Soul Guidance Crossbow!"

Sixteen dark bolts shot out, each embedding deep into the beast's flesh.

The Human-Faced Demon Spider twitched one last time before going completely still. A faint purple glow began to rise from its corpse, condensing into a floating soul ring—

A thousand-year soul ring.

---

"Xiaoya, are you alright?"

Bei Bei hurried over to Tang Ya, his voice filled with concern. Seeing that she was mostly unharmed, he let out a breath of relief and turned to the red-haired girl who had helped her. His expression softened with gratitude.

"Thank you, little sister."

It was Wu Feng.

When Bei Bei had been locked in battle, Wu Feng had rushed to Tang Ya's side, burning away the spider's web with her flames. Not only had she freed her, but she had also given her an antidote, ensuring the poison wouldn't spread.

"You don't need to thank me," Wu Feng said, waving him off. "If anything, thank Ning Tian and…" She hesitated briefly, then continued, "Brother Junting."

At her words, Bei Bei and Tang Ya turned to look toward the treeline.

"Wow! So handsome!"

Tang Ya's exclamation was almost instinctive.

Bei Bei, standing beside her, could only shake his head helplessly.

But even he couldn't deny it—the white-haired boy had an aura unlike any other. He was like a razor-sharp blade, ready to be unsheathed at any moment.

And then, their gazes shifted—

To the noble-looking girl beside him.

A foot-tall Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda floated above her right palm, two yellow soul rings circling it.

"Nine Treasures Glazed Sect…" Bei Bei muttered, tugging Tang Ya's sleeve. "Xiaoya, that's enough staring."

Then, he cupped his fists in greeting.

"Shrek Academy's Bei Bei. Thank you both for your help."

Tang Ya followed his lead, "Tang Ya of Shrek Academy, thank you very much!"

"You're welcome," Ning Tian replied, her tone lighthearted. "Since we'll all be Shrek freshmen soon, it's only natural to help our seniors. Besides…" She paused, glancing at the defeated scale-armored beast. "I needed its soul ring anyway."

"What!?"

Bei Bei and Tang Ya were stunned.

"She's almost a Soul Elder already?!"

"And she's going to be a freshman at Shrek Academy?"

"That means she's only… eleven years old?!"

Ning Tian simply smiled politely at their shock. She then approached the fallen scale-armored beast and ended its life with a precise Soul Guidance Ray.

Even in death, the beast's eyes seemed filled with relief.

---

"The third soul ring is two thousand years old, and she's still an auxiliary-type Soul Master at eleven… This is a monster," Bei Bei murmured in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Tang Ya had already rushed over to Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao, leaving Bei Bei standing alone before Chen Junting.

"Junior, thank you for stepping in just now."

Chen Junting had just retrieved his Seven Killing Sword when Bei Bei addressed him. Seeing the Tang Sect senior approach, his usual stern demeanor softened into a rare smile.

"Senior, there's no need for formalities. It was just a small effort on my part."

"That's not how I see it."

Bei Bei sighed, a lingering sense of fear in his eyes as he recalled the battle. His voice turned serious, "If not for you, we might not have survived. If you ever need assistance in the future, Xiaoya and I won't hesitate to help."

"Haha, that's quite the promise."

Chen Junting chuckled—not outright accepting the favor, but also not denying it.

"By the way, junior, what's your full name?"

"Chen Junting."

"Oh? The surname Chen?"

Bei Bei's gaze instinctively flickered toward the fallen scale-armored beast. However, when he didn't see the Seven Killing Sword embedded there, a thought struck him.

"Wait… Could it be that your martial soul is the Seven Killing Sword, passed down from Sword Douluo Chen Xin ten thousand years ago?"

Chen Junting nodded. "Indeed, my martial soul is the Seven Killing Sword."

"I see…"

Before the conversation could continue

"Bei Bei, come protect me!"

Tang Ya's urgent call broke the moment.

She had finally finished chatting with Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao, remembering that she still needed to absorb the Human-Faced Demon Spider's soul ring.

Bei Bei immediately went to her side, while Chen Junting wordlessly resumed his position beside Ning Tian. Huo Yuhao and Wu Feng also gathered around.

As time passed…

By dusk, Ning Tian and Tang Ya had successfully absorbed their respective soul rings.

Since the Star Dou Forest became even more perilous at night, the six of them made a unanimous decision—

To leave the border of the outer and mixed regions before nightfall.

(End of Chapter)

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Like always Stones me hard~